JohnnyR wrote:It's asking for trouble doing a trip like this by yourself.

It's been done many times, a few have had to take two, or even three bites to complete it.
There is always an element of risk, even when we head out for a fish, but having the gear and skillset makes a big difference.

End of the day, he's safe - whether he takes a life lesson from it remains to be seen, he's pretty much missed the weather window for this summer anyway.

Tell that to Paul Caffyn, North and South Islands and then he did Japan, Australia, Alaska, all solo. Tell that to that young kid Tara Mulvany who did most of the South Island solo (in winter) and the North Island all solo. A lot of people have done the South Island solo and a few the North Island too.

Tell that to Paul Caffyn, North and South Islands and then he did Japan, Australia, Alaska, all solo. Tell that to that young kid Tara Mulvany who did most of the South Island solo (in winter) and the North Island all solo. A lot of people have done the South Island solo and a few the North Island too.

Just use the right craft and have the right skills.

At the back end of my first Summer in a yak, I am starting to appreciate that some paddlers must have mad skills and experience and be supremely confident in themselves and their craft. A day I'd never go out is just a neat training paddle for them. I still get twitchy if the shoreline starts looking real thin. Just can't back myself out wide yet but will push those limits towards the end of next Summer.